MMB: Online tool for moms

Depression and anxiety among women are quite common during pregnancy or after the birth of a child.

It’s not just what people often called the “baby blues.” When a woman previously has been prone to ailments like postpartum depression, pregnancy and birth can trigger or exacerbate serious mental health disorders.

Sona Dimidjian, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, is adapting an existing online intervention for people with histories of depression to specifically meet the needs of pregnant women. Mindful Mood Balance for Moms, as it’s called, will allow users to access a “treatment” module to guide them through tough times, whenever and wherever they need it.

MMB is an example of a technology-driven intervention that has the potential to improve user outcomes as well as take down barriers to treatment. In short, it’s help instantly, when a woman needs it.

The National Mental Health Innovation Center (NMHIC) is partnering with Sona and her team from the CU Boulder to guide the development, and ultimately, the distribution of the program for widespread use.

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History

In October of 2015, the idea for the NMHIC was put to paper and the proposal to create a home for bold innovation in mental health was submitted to the Anschutz Foundation, which soon after generously funded the startup Center. read more…

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